Suspected militants ambush Manipur CM's advance convoy, 1 injured

New Delhi, June 10: On Monday, suspected militants ambushed the advance security convoy of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Kangpokpi district, resulting in one personnel being injured, police reported.

The convoy was en route to the violence-stricken Jiribam district. Multiple gunshots were fired at the security vehicles, prompting a retaliatory response from the forces.

Chief Minister Biren Singh condemned the attack on his convoy. Over the weekend, several Meitei villages in the Barak Circle were reportedly attacked by Kuki militants and their associates. The violence in Jiribam led to the burning of a police outpost, a forest beat office, and a forest range office. Around a dozen houses in four to five villages were torched, with officials confirming these homes belonged to Meiteis. The new wave of violence has displaced many families.

Tensions in Jiribam escalated following the abduction and subsequent killing of a Meitei individual, Soibam Saratkumar, on June 6. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this attack. In response to the violence, reinforced state security forces have been deployed to Jiribam.

Manipur has a history of ethnic violence, with the recent events in Jiribam reflecting long-standing conflicts. The underlying tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities have led to periodic violence, disrupting the region's peace and stability. The conflict is rooted in issues of land ownership, political representation, and ethnic identity, dating back to colonial times when the British demarcated administrative boundaries and categorized communities, sowing seeds of division. Post-independence, these divisions were exacerbated by competition for resources and political influence.

The Meitei, who dominate the political landscape, have sought Scheduled Tribe status to gain access to resources reserved for tribal communities, heightening tensions with the Kuki.

Both communities have formed armed groups to protect their interests, leading to clashes and cycles of retribution. The latest outbreak of violence in Jiribam, marked by arson and attacks on villages, is a continuation of these deep-seated ethnic conflicts.

Recent incidents include the killing of a Meitei individual and retaliatory attacks by Kuki militants, displacing hundreds of families and leading to significant property destruction.